City residents can expect to see a slight increase in their water/sewer bills, some road repairs and a few other noticeable projects in the City of Sequim next year.
Sequim city councilors approved the city’s $28.1 million 2016 budget in a 6-1 vote on Nov. 23 with Councilor Erik Erichsen voting against the budget. As with previous city budgets, Erichsen opposes the city paying $75,000 for human service contracts with nonprofit agencies saying it’s an individual’s decision, not the city’s, to support these agencies.
Next year’s budget is balanced, says City Manager Charlie Bush, with general fund revenues at about $8.85 million and expenses at $8.83 million.
City staff said the 2016 budget restores training and other cutbacks taken for the $37.9 million 2015 budget as the city’s Civic Center was constructed.
Many city departments have increased their budgets, including the police department at $177,000 ($2.838 million total) in part to continue funding the Sequim School Resource Officer position, help the department begin its state accreditation process and complete the emergency operations center.
Equipment reserves for the city will go up more than $80,000 to $440,000 with some of the purchases helping to buy two police cars and their equipment ($100,000), replace two service trucks ($95,000), a mechanic’s truck ($65,000) and de-icing and plow equipment ($30,000).
As a whole, city staffing levels reduce by 0.75 to 75.54 full-time employees following administrative retirements, creation of three new positions (office worker, maintenance worker and resources manager) and eliminating two seasonal positions.
Next year, non-uniformed employees will receive a 1.5 percent wage increase and a market wage adjustment, and management, non-represented staff, will receive a
1-percent increase. Contracts with police sergeants and officers still are in negotiations. Four city councilors will receive increases next year following a 2014 ordinance that raised pay for the council by $1,680 ($24,678 total) for 2016 and eliminated extra pay for special meetings. In 2018, their total salary will go up $1,080 to $25,841 based on the new pay structure.
Utilities increase
Rate payers in the city receive a 3-percent water increase and 2.5-percent sewer increase following a Utility Rate Study from 2013-2014.
City staff said the increases equate to about $1.12 in water for those who use 1,000 cubic feet of water and a $1.72 increase for sewer users per month.
Last year, residents’ sewer bills went up 2.71 percent and water went up depending on usage under a new tier system. Peninsula Financial Consulting recommended the city needed to fund increasing operational costs and planned projects by generating an additional 4 percent of revenue each year through rates or structural changes in both water and sewer utilities.
Under the plan, the city tentatively would raise water by 3.19 percent and sewer by 0.68 percent in 2017.
For those in need of help, the city continues its low-income discount for utilities, which 40 households currently use. Applications are due Jan. 15 and are available through the Sequim Civic Center, DSHS, Sequim Community Aid, St. Vincent de Paul, Serenity House, United Way, Shipley Center and on the city’s website at www.sequimwa.gov. For more information, call 683-4139.
Capital projects
The city slated $4.58 million in capital projects for 2016 with a bulk of that consisting of water and sewer projects. One major project repairs water and sewer on Sunnyside Avenue from Hammond Street to Fir Street for sewer repairs costing $579,000 and water repairs costing $615,000 on Sunnyside from Bell Street to Fir Street.
Some of the major street projects include installing a bike lane on Sunnyside, converting street lights to LED and spending $473,000 on pavement rehabilitation.
Public Works Director David Garlington said he and City Engineer Matt Klontz are developing a list and schedule for pavement rehabilitation projects that typically begins in June/July dependent on weather.
Much of that rehab work ($199,000) comes from the Transportation Benefit District’s $408,000 budget, which also pays for most of the LED light conversion ($53,000).
In parks, the city intends to put $140,000 toward parking at the Water Reuse Demonstration Site next to the Albert Haller Playfields. Sequim Family Advocates officials plan to pay for most if not all of the remainder of the project through grants and donations.
City staff also designated $51,000 to matching funds from pickleball players to construct courts in Carrie Blake Park.
Notable expenditures
• City councilors approved the allowable 1-percent tax levy increase that is anticipated to generate about $1.37 million for the city and cost a resident with a home worth $200,000 about $3 more a year going toward the city.
• The city continues to pay off its general obligation debt for the Civic Center at $665,000 annually.
• Keeler Park, originally purchased for $806,000, will be paid off in December 2016 instead of 2018.
• Contracts continue with the health and human services nonprofits along with $77,820 contracted to the Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Information Center and $5,000 to the Clallam Economic Development Corporation.
• A $225 administration fee was added to pay for city staff’s time in tracking and collecting fees following a new ordinance that defers impact fee totals until final inspection, the home is occupied or on the closing sale. Many other licenses through the city went up slightly to account for staff time such as business licenses, SEPA licenses, subdivisions and plat amendments.
For more information about the budget, visit www.sequimwa.gov.
